Racing
Fitter Samangu ready to pounce
A fitter Samangu is ready to put her best foot forward at Caulfield.
Trainer Grahame Begg believes a ring-rusty Samangu is now ready to put her best foot forward with a return to the winner's circle imminent.
Samangu heads to the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday third-up having been off the scene for nine months.
The five-year-old missed a spring campaign after a training setback having been turned out for a break after winning at Caulfield last March.
Begg thought Samangu would be ring-rusty in her return run at Caulfield Heath on December 20 but did not anticipate the mare finishing last of the six runners.
The trainer was happier with Samangu's performance when sixth in the Group 3 Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on January 10 and believes the mare is now ready to produce her best, especially as she is back against her own sex and racing under set-weights and penalty conditions.
"She has needed the two runs this time in," Begg said.
"Her first-up run was a non-event as she missed the jump, and it was a 1000-metre race on the Caulfield Heath.
"It had been a long time between runs for her, so she's certainly needed that run and I thought she ran well in the Standish and was the only one down on the inside to run well.
"Hedged and Maharba finished well behind them that day and Hedged turned his form around by going to Pakenham and winning.
"She made a bit of a dash at them at the 300 (metres) the other week and we thought this is interesting, but the horses down on the inside that day, it was like they hit a brick wall late.
"She ran well and she's prepped up well for Saturday's race and I think she's about there now."
Begg said getting back to Caulfield would also suit Samangu who is unbeaten on the bigger outer track, winning twice last year – February and March – over the 1100m journey while she is a 1200m winner on the Caulfield Heath and at Pakenham.
Check out the latest South African News